The Pilates performer is a machine created by Joseph Pilates to help strengthen your muscles by using springs, pulleys and ropes. It also minimizes stress to your muscles during a workout, making the reformer an ideal machine if you have an injury or illness that makes it difficult for you to do free-standing exercises. The Pilates performer is designed for home use and is small, light and often foldable.

The Machine

The performer is comprised of several parts. The foot bar, at the base of the machine above the springs, is where your feet usually rest when lying supine or face up. The springs attach the carriage to the frame of the reformer and provide resistance. Three to five springs -- depending on the brand -- of varying weights can be adjusted for more or less resistance. You lie on the carriage. The straps are attached to ropes, which swing through pulleys and allow for exercises where either your feet or hands are placed in the straps.

Correct Rope Length

The correct rope length varies based on height, limb length and exercise. The ropes adjust so that you can tailor them to your body. Lie on the performer and place your hands in the straps. Keep the carriage at rest. Lift your arms so that your fingers are pointing toward the ceiling and your hands are above the back edge of the carriage. There should be no tension on the ropes. Bring your hands slightly forward until they are above your shoulders. Your arms should be straight. In this position, the ropes should be taut but not too tight. Use this same format when you put your feet in the straps.

Adjusting Rope Length

If the there is tension in the ropes when your hands or feet are lifted and the carriage is at rest, the ropes are too tight; lengthen them. If the ropes are too loose, providing no tension when your hands or feet are in a forward position, shorten them. On the performer, there are two plastic snap hooks, one on each side. These hook into four loops -- A, B, C and D. A is the shortest rope length and D is the longest. Experiment to find which works best for your body.

Additional Length Adjustments

In some cases, you may need to adjust the ropes even shorter than loop A. Do this by detaching the plastic snap hooks, wrapping the rope around the loops again and re-attaching the plastic snap hooks where needed. If you need the ropes to be longer, do the reverse: detach the plastic snap hooks, unwind the rope from the loops and attach the hooks to loop D.

About the Author

Elizabeth Gray has been writing since the age of five, but professionally since the age of 21. Her current writing gigs include article writing for Studio Anya, and playwriting for the Manhattan Repertory Theatre.